Global, Diffuse Sky And Direct Beam Radiation Data For Kumasi, Central Ghana

The two components of global irradiation namely, direct beam and diffuse sky irradiations were measured with a Li-Cor photovoltaic pyranometer model LI-200SA over a four year period between 2001 and 2005 in Kumasi, located in the central part of Ghana (6° 40\'N, 1° 34\'W). Analysis of the results shows that the highest monthly average hourly global irradiance over the period (740.84 W/m ) and peak average hourly direct beam irradiance of 439.18 W/m were recorded in April. The highest peak monthly average hourly diffuse irradiance (521.72 W/m ) was in June. Monthly average daily direct beam irradiation and global irradiation range between 2563.09 Wh/m -day and 414.4 Wh/m -day and 4996.3 Wh/m -day and 3059 Wh/m -day respectively. The highest global irradiation occurred in April and the lowest occurred in August. The high level of diffuse sky irradiation in Kumasi has been attributed to the influence of atmospheric effects including the presence of rain cloud cover during the wet season and the presence of the Harmattan dust aerosol during the dry season. Keywords: Global irradiance, diffuse sky irradiance, direct beam irradiance, weatherJournal of the Ghana Institution of Engineers Vol. 5 (1&2) 2007: pp. 49-6

Solar energy resource assessment for Ghana

No Abstract.Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineers Vol. 2 (1) 2004: pp. 31-3

Desert dust impacts on human health: an alarming worldwide reality and a need for studies in West Africa

High desert dust concentrations raise concerns about adverse health effects on human populations. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper aims to learn more about the relationship between desert dust and human health in the world and to analyse the place of West Africa as a study area of interest. Papers focussing on the potential relationship between dust and health and showing quantitative analyses, published between January 1999 and September 2011, were identified using the ISI Web of Knowledge database (N = 50). A number of adverse health effects, including respiratory, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary diseases, are associated with dust. This survey highlights obvious dust impacts on human health independently of the study area, health outcomes and method. Moreover, it reveals an imbalance between the areas most exposed to dust and the areas most studied in terms of health effects. None of these studies has been conducted in West Africa, despite the proximity of the Sahara, which produces about half of the yearly global mineral dust. In view of the alarming results in many parts of the world (Asia, Europe, America), this paper concludes by stressing the importance of carrying out impact studies of Saharan dust in West Africa, where dust events are more frequent and intense than anywhere else